True stories of how animals helped Australians at war
IN times of war, animals have often been there with us. We reveal the stories behind a touching collection of Australian War Memorial photos involving animals.
Central Sydney
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Sydney. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ANIMALS are put to many uses in war. Sometimes they have jobs to do — horses and donkeys used to transport soldiers and equipment. Dogs tracking, locating and carrying messages. Other animals were mascots and pets.
The Australian War Memorial holds several collections of images of Animals in war. Here are the true stories behind some of those pictures.
Cat in the canon
The feline mascot of the light cruiser HMAS Encounter, is shown here peering from the muzzle of a 6 inch gun — taken about 1916. Commissioned into the RAN on 1 July 1912, Encounter became Australia’s first cruiser. Over the next two years she was actively employed in training the growing Navy and showing the flag at ports all around the nation. On 4 October 1913 she joined with the remainder of the new Australian Fleet Unit.
Cats have been war ship passengers for hundreds of years and were considered to be good luck for a voyage. Navy cats were initially recruited for their mouse and rat catching abilities to protect food stores but they also had the essential role of raising morale. By WWI, cats and kittens were mascots of not only ships but infantry regiments and air force squadrons.
Three men and a cat
This image called “Portrait of Company O’Connor Men and Cat” was taken on August 12, 1915 at the Seymour Training Camp, in Victoria. It was one of several military training camps established at the outbreak of WW1. At Seymour, training was provided to Infantry and Light Horse Regiments. This is one of a series of photographs taken by Darge Photographic Company, which had the concession to take photographs at the Broadmeadows and Seymour army camps at that time. The photographer’s notes usually recorded the names of the soldiers photographed, but unfortunately there is no record of the cat’s name.
Man with koala
This is an intriguing image which invites so many questions about how the Koala got to Cairo, Egypt during 1915. What did they feed it without its normal diet of gum leaves? The image shows a corporal, probably on the staff of the 2nd Australian general hospital, holding the koala, which may have been either a pet or mascot.
Gallipoli cat
This touching image shows a cat sitting in the opening of a sandbagged dugout. The cat, probably a regimental mascot, looks up expectantly at the approach of an unidentified soldier. The image was taken in 1915, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.
Dogs with a message
This informal portrait taken on May 3, 1918 shows Corporal James Coull with dogs of Number 3 Messenger Dog Section. This was attached to the 4th Divisional Signal Company and the shot was taken in a railway cutting near Villers-Bretonneux, France, while operating with 12th Brigade. The section had sixteen men and fifty messenger dogs who worked fairly successfully, but were never solely relied on in sending messages. The dogs are (from left) War Dog 103 Nell, a Cross Setter; 102 Trick, a Collie; 101 Buller (sometimes referred to as Bullet), an Airedale. All three dogs were very efficient in message carrying — particularly Trick, who was well known. He was specially mentioned by Signal Officer of 2nd Division for good work at Rubimont, near Heilly.
Dogs in Vietnam
This picture of two black Labrador dogs and their handlers was taken during 1967. The tracker dogs took part in Operation Lismore with 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. Pictured are Private (later Lance Corporal) Thomas Douglas Blackhurst of Swansea, NSW, with his dog Justin, and Lance Corporal Norman Leslie Cameron of Kingston, South Australia, with Cassius. The dogs were responsible for locating Vietcong fighters and some enemy installations. Lance. Corporal Blackhurst was killed in action on April 17, 1971 while serving with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam.
Witness to history
Taken sometime in 1914 by photographer Laker & Co of Camperdown. Colonel Granville Ryrie is shown mounted on his horse Plain Bill, in front of a Bristol Boxkite aircraft. Ryrie took this horse overseas when he left Australia with the 2nd Light Horse Brigade 1914. The Boxkite was the first aircraft to be produced by the British in large numbers. It was commonly used as a training aircraft and It continued to be used for training purposes until after the outbreak of the First World War. Boxkites were brought to Australia in 1911 for a promotional tour. Pilot Leslie Macdonald took a Daily Telegraph photographer up for a 25-minute flight over Sydney on May 6, making the first aerial photographs to be taken in Australia. Horses have been used extensively during war as a means of transport, pulling wagons, ambulances and water carts. Waler horses, which were originally sold from NSW, were considered the finest cavalry horses in the world and could travel long distances in hot weather with little water.
Man with donkey
The man with the donkey, 1941 version shows Private D.W. Jones of Carlton NSW of “C” company the 2/33 battalion. He was one of the men responsible for running the donkey team supply column to scattered units. Donkies were not as widely used as horses, but had some advantages. They were hardier and less excitable under fire. They could cope with course plants and shrubs which was handy in some inhospitable locations. Their ability to carry heavy loads — like wounded soldiers and supplies — is legendary.
Dogs became mates
Members of the 2/48th Battalion, 9th Australian Division, are pictured with a pet dog, after evacuation from Tobruk on the ship Kingston. It was taken in October 1941. From left to right they are believed to be Private Jack Colin Curtis of Southwark, South Australia; Private Jack Eunson Champion of Echunga, South Australia; and Corporal Roy Clifford Darley of Narridy, South Australia. Private Curtis later died of wounds in Egypt on 23 September 1942.
Beer loving possum
Flying Officer Robert Addison of Elwood Victoria is pictured here with ‘Ferdie’, the pygmy Flying Phalanger on June 14, 1945. Ferdie saw “active service” with a RAAF Spitfire squadron. Addison brought him on Bathurst Island, but the picture is taken on the Halmahera Islands, Morotai. ‘Ferdie’ was apparently quite a character and acquired a taste for beer and could drink a long tablespoon with any squirrel. However, his aerobatic judgment suffered and he even fell into a full glass of beer. This was the end of his drinking career. As one of the squadron’s mascots, the now teetotal possum met with a lot of competition. Among his rivals were fifteen dogs, a cat, another possum and a rooster. Flying officer Addison used to say that Ferdie’s success was due to his reputation for temperate living.
A yank with a roo
Not much is known about this image which shows an unknown American soldier at an advanced allied base, with his pet kangaroo. The picture was taken by John Earl McNeil on September 10, 1942.
Turtle named Tim
Captain D. Michelson is pictured here on March 28, 1940 with “Tim” the mascot of the 2/2nd Batallion taken at Julis in Palestine. The British had built an army camp there through which many Australians passed.
Battle of the mascots
This picture shows two sailors comparing ships mascots. Able Seaman J.T. Walker is holding his pup “Shrapnel” and Able Seaman Gamble with his cat “Salvo”. The shot was taken on July 22, 1940.
Puppy meets a general
Ronald Keith Monro took this charming image of the mascot of a cookhouse at the 9th Australian division. The pup had just been washed and was being dried off in preparation for the visit of general Douglas Macarthur, Commander in Chief, Allied Land Forces, South West Pacific Area. The shot was taken at Atherton, Queensland on July 16, 1943.
Cats in a hammock
Aboard the HMAS Nizam, the ship’s cats had a custom made cat hammock to themselves. Australian destroyer Nizam was one of the “Tobruk ferries” — assisting supply to the Australian garrison, besieged at the Lybian town of Tobruk. The Photographer was George Silk who captured the shot in June, 1941, in the Middle East. The name of the sailor and the cats is not known.
A pat from the boss
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, was photographed in the act of patting the bushy tailed, black cat mascot of HMS Prince of Wales. Churchill was at this time en route for a secret meeting with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was September 1941 and taken somewhere at sea. The photographer is not known.
Saying goodbye
This beautiful photograph was taken of Sergeant Eric Campbell Lawther, of Hurlstone Park, NSW, of 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment as he said goodbye to veteran mine dog, Dean, in Korea. The photographer was Vince J Sweeney, who took the shot on March 13, 1956. Military working dogs were commonly used in many roles, such as guards, messengers and lifesavers. Their keen sense of smell has been used to locate injured soldiers, track the enemy and detect mines, similar to the bomb detector dogs of today. They also helped to deliver messages through the trenches and carry items such as ammunition and medical supplies.
AFL Sydney future watch: Meet 45 bright young male and female talents
The pathway to the top starts here. These young stars from AFL Sydney are building their reputations early, and could be future draft picks in the making. See the full list of 45 rising talents.
$355m loss: NSW worst pokie hotspots
This is where NSW pokie players have lost more than $355 million in four months. Search and check our interactive table to see if it’s where you live and how your suburb compares.